According to a recent Bitkom study, consumers expect more environmentally friendly packaging solutions when shopping online.
A representative survey by the digital association Bitkom shows that 92 per cent of online shoppers in Germany believe that retailers should pack as many goods as possible in the same box. In addition, 69 per cent of respondents try to bundle their orders in order to reduce delivery emissions.
Dr Bernhard Rohleder, Managing Director of Bitkom, emphasises the importance of efficient packaging: „Products the size of a USB stick, for example, are often sent in shoebox-sized packages. If senders manage to avoid excessive packaging waste, they also reduce the environmental impact of deliveries.“
The study also shows that 33 per cent of online shoppers try to buy less online and more in-store in order to reduce their environmental impact. However, Rohleder points out that bricks-and-mortar retail is not automatically more environmentally friendly: „You can't say across the board that shopping in bricks-and-mortar retail is lower in emissions than ordering online - it all depends on the individual case. If you drive to the shopping centre by car, then delivery by a parcel service provider can be much better for the environment.“
In addition, 59 per cent of those surveyed believe that completely emission-free deliveries will be standard in the future.
Source: Bitkom
